“NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US”
With the support of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Los Angeles and the Ruderman
Family Foundation, Beit Issie Shapiro and Israel
Elwyn have built a distinctive network of self-
advocacy groups and grassroots leadership
among people with intellectual disabilities in
Israel. Without any existing formula in Israel,
we developed the conditions, tools and
accessible information necessary to enable
their authentic voices to emerge and be heard
by their community and by policy makers.
SEEING THROUGH TO THEIR SOULS
Beit Issie Shapiro is the first organization in Israel
to discover the world beyond ‘the disability’ and
see a child all the way to the depth of his/her soul.
Our breakthrough holistic model brings attention
not only to our children’s functional challenges, but
also to their emotional and psychological wellbeing
– and provides tailored solutions for their emotional
needs. We are training therapists and caregivers in
this method and are collaborating with the Israeli
government to ensure widespread implementation
and maximum impact.
PARADIGM FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING
In order to provide unprecedented higher
education opportunities and vocational training to
young adults with learning disabilities, we piloted
a model that offers them professional degrees in
computer graphics, computerized warehousing,
automation and robotics, as well as courses in
animal, art and film therapies. Together with
Ruppin Academic Center, we deliver specialized
aid, individual counseling and mentorship through-
out the training process. Incredibly, 80% of the first
group of graduates has found employment.
PIONEERING AND INCUBATING NEW SOLUTIONS
INNOVATIVE MODELS
